The Matchmaker

Wah. This is the last chapter...! Sorta. There WILL be an epilogue... I just need to write it, obviously... ^_^ It was fun, y'all. Luv you guys.

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The Matchmaker

Chapter nine

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"I still can't believe I agreed to do this."

"Shut up."

"I thought you were more articulate than that, Picard."

"Ivan, I WILL Megacool you into oblivion if it comes to it."

"Hmph, and I'll Spark Plasma you into the depths of -- "

"You don't KNOW Spark Plasma, Ivan, so do shut up."

"Felix -- "

"Shove it, Ivan. Or I'll drop out of this. Now."

Picard thunked the younger boy on the head, effectively quieting him for the time being. Felix rubbed at the bridge of his nose, it having only been healed a short time ago by Isaac. (Picard had been too exhausted to do much except pant for air.)

"I can't believe Jenna actually allowed Garet to escort her!" Felix grouched in his elder-brother-sort of fashion, still caressing his bruised nose. "He's already stepping on her feet, and Venus knows how much he weighs... And she's in pumps. I can't believe that -- "

Picard swung at Felix.

"Oww.... That was unnecessary, Picard," Felix winced, mimicking the Mercury adept's scolding from before. "Ivan, shouldn't you be with your beloved Sheba?"

"Err, well..." Ivan fidgeted with a corner of his tunic. Felix rubbed his head, growling at Picard. Picard whistled and twiddled his thumbs, as though oblivious to the rabid dog known as Felix.

"Ivan!" Sheba called. Felix snickered. "Oh, where were you?"

"Um, planning the last few steps of Operation M.U.D.?" He shrugged. Sheba giggled, pecking his cheek affectionately. Ivan flushed. Felix snickered harder, but Picard shoved him, and he stumbled and fell, unfortunately, onto a thorn bush.

"OW!" Felix shrieked. Ivan led Sheba away quickly before she could question their motives for harming the poor Venus adept. "Okay, Picard, THAT was completely unnecessary -- "

"Did I tell you Picard and Felix were in charge of the fireworks display?" Ivan told Sheba a bit worriedly as Felix ran after Picard, both in all their Festival finery. Some women clapped hands over their child's innocent ears and glared at the men as they ran around trees, people, and buildings, Felix screaming curses like there was no tomorrow.

Isaac watched bemusedly as Felix unconsciously set off Ragnaroks as fireworks. But he didn't keep his eyes long on the skies, even if the evening sky was dotted with early stars and glimmers of colored light (courtesy of Felix). He had other more interesting, beautiful things to watch...

Mia giggled as she and Jenna exchanged comments. Jenna reached up and twitched her tiara a bit to the right, frowned, then pressed it up a bit more so that it caught the dim light.

"So how's it goin' so far, Isaac?" Garet asked, clapping a hand on his shoulder. Isaac thought he sank into the ground a few inches.

"Err, okay..."

"They're so pretty, aren't they?" Garet chuckled, his eyes partially glazed over. His friend blinked.

"Yeah. My opinion of girls and women have changed so drastically..."

"Isaac." Mia murmured, taking his hand in her gloved one. Isaac blinked again and looked down at her, immediately getting lost in her sparkling sapphire orbs. "Let's go talk to Ivan and Sheba..."

"Oh, alright. See you later, Garet, Jenna. Don't crush all of her toes, now, Garet." Isaac added. Garet glared at him, but was led away by his date willingly.

Mia was bubbling with energy, all of her past stress and worries forgotten. The dress was snug on her body, and it showed off her great figure. (And of course, Jenna knew, that was what she wanted.) She knew Isaac had his eyes glued on her since she came downstairs to meet him. The sash at her waist had shifted ever so slightly in time to her movements. Her hair had been done up by Dora herself, making her look like a princess from a distant land, and her tiara set it all off.

Though her outer emotions showed she was cool, calm, and collected as she took Isaac's hand, her insides were nearly rotting themselves out with worry. Would she trip? (And bring Isaac down with her?) Would she forget proper etiquette? Did Isaac -- well, no, that question was safe. Isaac apparently forgot everything else around him, and she had to lead him out of the way of trees occasionally. (She had heard of the recent demise of Felix, and didn't want it to happen to her precious Isaac.)

Isaac had a notion to jump up and down happily with glee. Here he was, at one of the most important events (Probably was the only important event...) in Vale... err, history, with his long-time crush. He would tell Mia his feelings tonight. Yes, yes, yes, err, no.... No! Isaac! What's wrong with you? Mudshippers everywhere are -- oh, fine, I won't start ranting. For your sake.

Isaac brought Mia's hand up to his lips and kissed it through the simple cotton gloves she wore. She visibly blushed at the contact.

"Have I told you how pretty you are?" He whispered. Mia looked self- conscious.

"Yes, Isaac. Many times." She mumbled back. Oh, and how Isaac wanted to do more than just kiss her hand...!

"Hello, Isaac, Mia." Sheba greeted them, dragging Ivan with her. "Mia, your dress is beautiful! In fact, you're beautiful!"

"Thank you, Sheba. You look pretty too, right, Ivan?" She smiled. Ivan flushed and looked away, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "You know, Ivan, it's rude not to tell your date she looks wonderful in her outfit."

"Really?" Ivan appeared to choke a moment. Sheba smiled knowingly. "I'm sorry, Sheba, if -- "

"No, it's alright. I know your thoughts anyhow."

Ivan wanted to sink into the ground and never come back up. Even if Felix threatened him with an axe.

Well, maybe.

~-~-~-~-~-~

Jenna had the odd feeling everyone was staring at her. She looked around. Immediately, everyone seemed to turn in unison and stare at someone else. Mia. She sighed. The other women were whispering, occasionally glancing at her, but she knew it was all in fun. Nobody dared say things behind her back while she was around. That, and as long as she had her Tisiphone Edge. (Whoo, the T-Edge RAWKS! *Erhem*)

"Garet, are you..."

"Wha-whaaat? No, I wasn't sneaking cookies!" Garet blinked. Jenna stared at him as though he was Flint in a pink tutu. Er, maybe something less frightening.

"I was about to say, were you drooling, but..."

"I... um, oh." He tried desperately to think of something that wouldn't get him a whack across the face. "Of... Of course I was drooling, Jenna! You're so extravangantly lovely!"

Jenna raised her eyebrow, shook her head, but kissed him on the cheek for his comment. Garet looked drunk for a moment, then led her off to dance, his mind barely remembering Isaac's warning.

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"Bah, you're evil." Felix grumbled, rubbing his thigh. Picard chuckled.

"Don't you have a date?" Picard asked, a good distance away from the brunet.

"Don't you?" He snorted. He made a face as he brushed off thorns like dust.

"I'm surprised, Felix, what with all the ladies here, you don't have a date!" He gestured to all the infatuated fans of Felix.

"Well, you don't, either, do you?" Felix asked, plucking a particularly nasty thorn from his hip. "Ow."

"Well, actually, I do, but she's not here yet. No wonder, she lives in Xian..."

"Xian?" Felix sputtered. "That's further than Kalay!"

Picard resisted the strong urge to say, "Duh."

"Oh, there she is. Remember our deal, Felix!" Picard said, waving, weaving in and out of the throng of people to meet a Chinese-style carriage.

"He asked Feizhi? Good Venus." Felix blinked, moving off back up the cliffs to set off the real fireworks, still plucking thorns and such from his pants.

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Mia was lost in her thoughts as Isaac swung her around. Her head was in a daze, and she could vaguely make out something Isaac was saying.

"Umm, pardon?"

"You dance beautifully, Mia." He said. Mia had the feeling he'd do nothing but compliment her all night.

"Thank you, you do too."

"I'm glad you didn't decide to go with Garet." Isaac said. Mia smiled at him as they stepped back and forth in their dance.

"I would have been in a wrong state of mind."

Isaac smiled, squeezing her hand lightly. Mia was really beautiful in the dim light -- her tiara sparkled, her eyes were full of bliss. Her dress made her look like a goddess of water -- which, to Isaac, she was. Besides love, beauty, kindness, compassion...

Mia was thinking thoughts parallel to Isaac's. He seemed so carefree tonight. The blond was was always so solemn and serious during their journey. She knew he had been just worried about the fate of the world, stopping Saturos and Menardi, rescuing Jenna and Kraden, and finding Lemuria.

He was so handsome when he was carefree! Mia sighed. Isaac took the chance to plant a light kiss on her forehead. She shivered. Isaac gulped.

"Did I do something wrong?" He asked, worry in his voice. Mia smiled serenly at him.

"Of course not, Isaac."

He sighed softly. Mia tucked her chin next to his as they danced slowly under the night sky.

~-~-~-~-~-~

"Ugh. Ivan really owes me for this." Felix grumped as he moved around the trees, spotting his stash of fireworks. He crouched by them, taking count. He was glad some other youths didn't steal some -- that happened the last time, when he was their age. He was grounded for a week. (^-^;;)

But, patting his pockets (And still plucking off a few briars), he realized he left his box of matches in the *other* pair of pants. Felix grumbled things incoherently.

/You need some help?/

He jumped.

"Shine, is that you?"

/...I'm not Shine, you idiot. I'm Fever./

"Well, I can't tell the difference." Felix snapped at the small Fire Djinni on his knee.

/How can you tell the difference between your Djinn, then? How did you know you were attacking with Geode, and not Echo?/

"Err... Only a Venus adept knows those answers! Now are you going to 'help' me or not?"

/Sure, why not. Since Garet dumped us off, we have nothing to do./

"We?" Felix squeaked. An army of Fire Djinn appeared behind Fever, and he guessed Jenna's Djinn were in the assembly as well.

/Fireworks! Whoo!/ Flash squeaked happily.

/Explosions!/ Shine hooted.

Felix felt a wave of worry wash over him.

~-~-~-~-~-~

"Look, Ivan! The fireworks!"

So Felix kept up his end of the deal, Ivan thought grumpily as numerous explosions filled the sky. Wait a second, that looked suspiciously like a Djinni falling from one of the -- no, never mind. Felix didn't carry Mars Djinn. Right? Of course.

The crowd clumped together to stare up at the fireworks display. Jenna nudged Garet and pointed discreetly at the still-dancing Isaac and Mia. She giggled, seeing Mia tucked up against comfortably against Isaac, who looked as though her were in Heaven.

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Felix had a headache already. He set up a rather large cracker (As Valeans called them) in a small stand, then nudging it around so it would explode in a certain portion of the sky. But he began to hear a sparkling --

"SHINE! You idiooooooot!" Felix shrieked as the he AND the cracker went whizzing off into the night sky. The Djinn all tittered happily, some beating tails with Shine, which was the equivalent as slapping hands in the Djinn society.

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The crowd all gasped as they saw what appeared to be a figure fall midway through the ascent of a cracker. With a splash, they landed in the river. The Valeans were all shocked for a moment, then a cautious sort of talking began again, as more fireworks twirled through the sky.

Isaac was still unaware that fireworks were in the sky, much less the fact Felix had just fallen from one into the river. Mia was radiating a warmth different than that of the warmth of a human body. More like a soothing sort of warmth. Isaac felt fuzzy inside.

Then the thought of 'It's time' came to Isaac. Ever so gently, he tugged her towards the Psynergy stone.

"They say if a couple express their love for one another on the night of the Festival of Sol and Luna (Which is the real name of it) in front of the Psynergy stone, they will be forever together. A special bond with tie them together, and everyone will know that they are in love." Isaac whispered into her ear, the heat of his breath washing over the left side of her face. Mia shivered, feeling her heart speed up.

"Mia, I want to tell you, that I..." Isaac paused, holding her hands tightly, staring straight into her eyes. "...I love you. I think I loved you the day I saw you, healing that old couple. And I might sound cheesy saying this, but I hope we grow old together like them, inseparable by any force imaginable. I love you, Mia, and please stay by my side for as long as time allows."

Mia felt the tears peeking out from the corners of her eyes trickle down her cheeks and fall onto their clasped hands. Isaac let go of one of her hands and brushed them away tenderly.

"Oh, Isaac, I love you, too... Please don't ever go away from me." She leaned up, tucking her arms around his neck. Isaac held her close, breathing in her soft, delicate smell.

"I won't ever leave you, Mia. Never."

"You promise?" Mia asked, sounding like a child. Isaac kissed her cheek.

"I promise. And you can beat me into a pulp if I do."

Mia smiled, leaning back to gaze into his beautiful eyes. They sealed that promise with a kiss. A very long one at that.

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"Whoo! Operation M.U.D. is accomplished!" Jenna whooped in an unlady-like fashion. Sheba appeared, Ivan at her heels.

Garet squeezed Jenna. Unfortunately for Jenna, 'squeezed' to him more meant like a bear hug that could break your ribcage. While Jenna wheezed and choked and begged to Garet to let her go, Sheba jumped at Ivan in glee.

"We did it, Ivan! We got them together!" She said, swinging from his neck.

"Yes, we did."

Sheba blinked. Did he sound a bit... forlorn? She squinted a bit. Of course.

"We can be together, too, you know." She said shyly. Ivan smiled at her and kissed her nose.

"Of course we can."

Finally, Garet had let Jenna go.

"Sorry Jenna. I'm just so... so... happy... Isaac's found his 'one true love,' as they say."

Jenna couldn't help but smile. Then, she reached up, yanked Garet down by his collar, and whispered huskily into his ear,

"I think I've found mine, too."

"Really? Who?" Garet asked suspiciously.

Jenna fell over.

~-~-~-~-~-~

A bit earlier. . . .

Felix sputtered as he waded over to the bank, slipped, fell back in, and then stumbled onto the grass, cursing the existence of the Djinn. He coughed, then made a rude hand gesture to the Mars Djinn, barely visible in the cliffs. He could hear them tittering in glee to see him fall into the river.

That was a rush, though. Not too bad, but he wouldn't do it again, unless Ivan's life was on the line.

Wet and squelching, he made his way back down, leaving the Djinn to do whatever they wanted with the fireworks. Wait a second --

That wasn't a good thing. But, oh well.

"So what did I miss?" He asked Picard, trying to keep his pants from falling.

"Felix, what happened to y -- oh." Felix nodded grumpily. "Isaac and Mia are an official couple now."

"Damned Djinn." The brunet sighed. "Wonderful. That means I get to pulverize Ivan... Heeheehee." He rubbed his hands together.

"Are Djinn not good, well-meaning creatures?" Feizhi asked, sipping from a cup of water. Picard and Felix stared at her.

"Where've you been all your life?" They both said incredulously. Feizhi blinked.

~-~-~-~-~-~

Ivan and Sheba had snuck up behind the Psynergy stone and cast Reveal together, sending the purplish-blue aura that the stone hid sprawling out around the lovebirds. The couple had both squeaked and looked around wildly. Jenna, with a lovesick Garet in tow, had explained Operation M.U.D. to Isaac and Mia.

And the rest was history.

Felix was busy chasing the Mars Djinn around, still in wet clothing. Picard was watching bemusedly, and Feizhi was asking questions he didn't know the answer to, or didn't bother to answer. (He was too occupied, it seems. *Snark* XD)

Later that night, the eight of them met up at Isaac's kitchen, drinking hot chocolate and in Felix's case, with several blankets wrapped around him, discussing the night's events, and the future's.

"What a night." Picard said cheerily. Felix growled at him.

"Mars Djinn are evil things." The brunet said crossly. Jenna stuck her tongue out at her brother.

"Yeah, but they're useful!"

"They're the reason I fell into the river." Jenna shrugged, a guilty expression on her face.

"So our lovebirds are finally together?" Dora asked, mussing Isaac's hair and patting Mia's shoulder. They both flushed.

"They were having the smooch of the century." Sheba grinned.

"You wanna see a smooch of the millenia, Sheba?" Ivan asked. Sheba rolled her eyes and shoved him. Isaac chuckled.

"So it looks like some other things happened while we were, err..." Isaac fidgeted. Mia placed her head on his shoulder.

"...declaring your undying love for each other." Jenna supplied, squeezing Garet's large hand. Felix groped for his Levatine, but realized grumpily that he had also left that in his other pair of pants.

"Err, yeah." Isaac looked at Ivan, who was hugging Sheba tightly. He had the eerie feeling Jenna and Garet were playing footsie under the table, but he didn't want to know, really. And Felix wouldn't appreciate it, he was sure.

"So I guess we'll be invited to a multi-wedding?" Dora asked, crossing the room again and refilling their mugs.

Felix looked as though he had swallowed a cannonball and facing indigestion. Isaac flushed. Jenna giggled. Ivan smiled. And Garet was completely clueless as of what a multi-wedding was.

"So you won't be going back up to Imil, Mia?" Sheba asked, slapping away Ivan's wandering hand.

"Oh, I suppose we'll have to visit sometime -- probably during the summer, so we won't get snowed in. Right, Isaac?" She said, staring at him and begging him with her eyes.

"Umm, well..." Isaac fidgeted.

"It's not like we're doing anything! No more saving the world stuff, right?" Garet nodded.

"Yeah, let's all go!" Jenna suggested.

Felix paled. Well, let's say he got paler. The poor boy, he needs a tan... (Ooo, tanned Felix! ^-^ *Snark*)

"Right." Isaac nodded. "During the summer."

"Yay!" Mia cheered, hugging him like a child with an overstuffed teddy bear.

So this was how the heroes of the Golden Sun spent the rest of their lives. Apparently. Isaac and Mia married in the fall, after their visit to Imil. Dora insisted that she was too young to be a grandmother. Garet and Jenna were engaged -- Felix sulked for days. Picard had to leave after Isaac and Mia's wedding -- promising to return for the Mars adepts'. Ivan and Sheba went back to Kalay, deciding to try out their relationship before taking a large step in life.

But on a side note --

"IVAAAAN! WHERE ARE YOU?! YOU AGREED TO THIS!" Felix roared as he entered the city of Kalay. People stopped to stare at the madman.

"Eep. Hide me." Ivan mumbled to his girlfriend. Sheba blinked.

"Wha?" She asked. Ivan fainted dead away. And Felix waved his Levatine angrily at the sky, only to be apprehended by the guards of Kalay.

-- Later...

"My brother's an idiot..." Jenna moaned. Garet pat her on the back sympathetically.

"It can't be all THAT bad, Jenna-love." He said soothingly. Jenna sounded as though she were sobbing into the table.

"We have to bail him out of jail... Thrown in jail just for acting like the homicidal maniac he is! Astounding." Isaac snorted, slapping a piece of parchment down on the table. Ivan sighed.

"Now, Isaac..." Mia started. Isaac cut her off with a quick smooch that left her dazed.

Oh, they always said Vale was for the weird ones, no?

-- And in jail...

"Stupid Ivan."

"Hey bud -- whatcha in for?" A burly man with a mustache and and mean looking scars asked. Felix scooted away. Very quickly.

I'm an idiot, thought he.

And so is Ivan.

Yes, Vale was for the weird and homicidal. And that's how this story ends.

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End of STORY! Pity Felix!

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W00T BABY! Wrote the whole last chapter in ONE DAY! XD I love myself.

[Felix] I'm in jail! *Sobs*

::Dances:: Eeeyaaah! But, wait, I put up the epilogue for you guys, too. ^_^ I know you people luv me! Heeeee... Oh, and did you notice my stupid remark about Felix and Picard? ^_^

[Felix] *Sniff*

Look out for the sequel... It'll be sorta angsty, centered on the relationship between Felix and Picard, and Mia's pregnant. Whoo. I love myself. I'm being brave about this for once!

[Stephanie] Then why isn't it a full-blown yaoi, and just a measly shonen- ai?

...::Snorts:: Well, maybe it'll get to that later, but it'll be so slight even people who don't know what shonen-ai is can read it and be happy! ...I hope. Felix and Picard! Whoo! XD ....People are gonna hate me for this. ::Worries about the Felix and Picard fans::

[Felix] *Cries*

Oh, poor Felix. Pity him (and me) and read the epilogue and review. I'm grateful to you people that just read, and SOMEHOW FORGET TO REVIEW... -_-

[Stephanie] Oh, that's an A-bomb of a hint.

No deerrr... Don't hate me. Myeh, and a few warnings for the next chapter: ALEX-BASHING! Slightly. Well, mix a few Grand Gaias, a PMS-ing Jenna, and an overall unhappy GS crew with a mentally unstable Alex... Hee! ^_^ GARET- BASHING! But that's my thing, so, yeah. IVAN-BASHING! Very slight. Felix runs after him with a Levatine! And, ummm....

[Stephanie] Isaac and Mia get it ON! *Cackles*

::Tackles her and stuffs a gag in her mouth:: Shut up, Stephanie! ^-^;; Can't have the readers know TOO much about the epilogue... ::Sweats:: It's a PG rating, after all!

[Stephanie] Mmph.

[Felix] *Creating the Flood all over again*